(no subject)

[allucinator]

[Jack appears on the network. It looks as if he isn't aware he's being filmed at first; he glances around him nervously, his eyes darting from place to place.]

So-- right. You guys don't got no newsies, yeah? But I'm grown outta that business anyway, so I figure, I'll do somethin' else anyway.

[And now he focuses on the camera. His eyes are a little sunken in; his cheekbones jut out sharply from his face. The entire effect is unpleasant; he looks like he hasn't slept or eaten in quite some time. Carefully, each movement deliberate, he takes a cigarette out of his pocket; his gaze focuses on that as he speaks.]

I draw pictures. Real good, if I do say so myself. Do paints, too. You want your picture done? You want your wall painted? Maybe you're in theater, you want some sets done, or maybe you want somebody to put a, a, a mural on your wall. If it's somethin' to do with art, I can do it. I don't give a damn what it is. I'll paint you and your stupid girlfriend if you want, 's long as you pay me. Name's Jack Kelly.

[He nods sharply, once, and lights up the cigarette.]

An' in personal business, a couple thin's: this gun's good an' all, but I'm in the knives business, meself. Anybody sellin' any good blades? I don't mean no stores, all right, I ain't lookin' for no directions to no weapons shops. I'm talkin' about the good stuff, the stuff you get on the streets. I don't got much money yet, but like I said, I got a few skills I can exchange.

An' speakin' o' them: I hear I got some roommates. Miss, uh, Galadriel and some guy named Guy? Well, I ain't gonna be in at all. Not for sleepin', anyway. So don't trouble yourself with that, when you don't see me come in.

[A deliberate pause. He exhales a lungful of smoke and watches it drift upwards before adding:]

Asano Rin. I got a bone to pick with you, and I think you know why.

Comments

[whatsupcroc]

Sure, if you want! Might be too spicy for you, but hey, you said you know bread...

( Oh man -- she grins. )

You're really Irish! I should introduce you to Simmaeri sometime. She sings. She was also a dinosaur once!

[allucinator]

[His eyebrows raise, but he manages to say dryly:]

Born that way, or she just changes?

[whatsupcroc]

Born a dinosaur, I think! Not sure how she changed, but it was probably magic.

( She nods. )

Around here, most the time stuff like that is magic or a curse. We turn right over there! It's the fourth store down.

[allucinator]

Yeah, I heard.

[He sighs as they turn the corner.]

How often they happen?

[whatsupcroc]

Um... how often does what happen?

( She doesn't follow what he's asking. )

[allucinator]

Magic. Curses. Dinosaurs gettin' turned into people.

[whatsupcroc]

What? That... basically never happens? I mean, maybe some people were cursed back home, but the only really weird stuff happened when the Transport pads went wonky, and they fixed those errors. Magic is kind of hard to say. Loki probably uses his magic most often out of anyone, and he's kind of a mean trickster.

[allucinator]

[He shrugs again, sharply.]

I'll stay outta his way, then. I just wanna know what shit I gotta do to not get caught up in crap.

[With a vague sort of air he holds the door to the shop open.]

Ladies first an' all.

[whatsupcroc]

He mostly isn't down this way. Which is better for everyone, from what his brother said.

( She smiles, dismissing the topic of Loki, if not how it almost seemed to make Jack tense. Other worlds... sure must be something hellacious at times. )

Woah, you see one around here?

( She makes a show of looking around, wide eyed, before laughing and aiming herself inside with a breezy: )

Thanks!

( Soon after calling a hello to the person behind the counter. )

[allucinator]

[He follows her a little shyly, sticking by her chair nervously, shying away from anyone else. They're set up at a table in back, which he's grateful for; it's a little less crowded there. He's suddenly, painfully aware of the difference between them-- of her neat and precise appearance versus his own filthy (and bloody) rags.

Oh, well.]

I'll pay. If you like.

[whatsupcroc]

( Collette finishes arranging the extra chair out of the way, something begun by the person who'd lead them back before being waved off by the teen herself. She glances toward Jack, flashing him a smile. )

Hey, I'm the girl who's been here for a while! If it makes you feel okay, then sure, but I've got the money for this. ( She winks. ) Company's more than enough. I just usually have to bribe people out with food in the first place!

( It's usually been a very effective plan. She takes the chance to regard him now with open curiosity. He doesn't want anything to do with the apartments... hmm. )

There's free showers at the training center. If you're ever interested. We all had to use them when the complex got hit by a spaceship and was under heavy construction for a week.

( She reaches out to pick up the pepper shaker. )

Huh! These are new.

[allucinator]

[He scowls a little despite himself, glancing away.]

Sorry. I, uh. I usually keep cleaner then this.

[whatsupcroc]

( She shrugs, examining the pepper -- and Jack, beyond it. )

No reason to apologize! Trust me, we've all looked as bad, if not worse, with stuff that happens around here. You know, camping, hiding out, the whole war thing...

( She sets the pepper down next to the salt. )

You're fine.

[allucinator]

[He snorts, shaking his head.]

I ain't, but you're sweet to say so. How bad is it? The war. I mean, how . . . traumatic do it get?

[whatsupcroc]

( She studies his face, biting down on her lip as she thinks. )

Mmm... How honest do you want me to tell it?

[allucinator]

Be straight. Don't cushion it.

[whatsupcroc]

( She swallows, then gives him a small, soft smile. Her tone of voice is factual, conversational and calm. Considering the content... it's a little odd. )

We just saw the United Earth take out someone's whole world. Bombs, mass slaughter, chaos... you name it, it was there. See, the soldiers they have are made to be perfect. Like... does the word genetics mean anything to you?

( She pauses for a beat, then continues on, shaking her head. )

They've bombed us, threatened us, sicced giant mutant animals on us, and done everything but wipe the island out 'cause they need the brains of the people here working for the Initiative. They're all run by an AI, which is a big computer brain, but it can't figure out how to make the time-travel work, so it needs these guys. Only these guys are trying to undo things in the past faster than the UE finds out what they're doing... and it doesn't always work. We do change the past, that's really true! Sometimes it's even good. But sometimes you have to stand by and watch thousands, millions, even billions of people die, and you can't do a thing besides plan how to make it better by stopping them before they can ever get to that point.

[allucinator]

[He listens to all of that with an unchanging expression-- blank, nearly, and it would look as if he isn't listening, except his dark eyes are quite intent. He's silent for a bit, digesting all that-- and then, quietly, simply:]

All right.

[whatsupcroc]

( She places her hands carefully in her lap. )

What's that mean?

[allucinator]

Means all right. Means it sounds awful, but it's war, so, you know, I weren't exactly expectin' no picnic.

[whatsupcroc]

Good! Then the nice days are going to be good for you. We do have those! More than some people like to say. It's not always terrible. It really isn't! You get to meet so many good people, experience new things, get a chance to live in a way you might not have otherwise... there's good stuff, too.

( A man appears to give them both a glass of ice water, asking if there's anything they'd like to order. )

The Lentil soup, please! In a bowl.

[allucinator]

Oh, a roll, I guess. White bread.

[His stomach growls audibly, but he ignores both it and the amused glance the waiter gives him. Instead:]

So you don't regret gettin' pulled here?

[whatsupcroc]

( Collette manages not to look his way, though her eyebrow quirks up and she bites back the beginnings of laughter. )

No. Not for a moment, even when it really hurts, or gets really scary. There're too many really good things that happen too, and great people I've met, or places I've even seen. It's worth it, and -- well, you know. I said I'd tell you a bit more about what you're asking?

( It's almost a total tangent. )

I've never been to other worlds, but Vanadi met a version of me in the place he was in before. This is my other world. And I don't mind fighting to protect the important people I've met in it, or to keep their worlds from being destroyed from the outside. The ones where people want them saved, at least.

[allucinator]

Jesus.

[He bites at his thumbnail, taking in what she's saying. It's more than a little confusing, truth be told, but fascinating all the same.]

What's he like? Vanadi. I ain't askin' for no dirty details, just-- what's he like? He good?

[whatsupcroc]

Yes. Vanadi's the best! He has trouble being like, monogamous? If you care about that, but he doesn't like to fight, and most the time he's not even a big coward.

( She paints the prettiest pictures of people. )

He's a good person. He's like family to me! He's pretty social, and tends to be late a lot, but he's a good cook and he really cares on a surface level. I don't know if he can deal with caring about someone soul-deep, but hey, that's not for everyone, you know? He still saves your butt, no matter what. When you matter to him, you matter.